LANSING –Voters in the Lansing, Grand
Ledge, Williamston and Bath school districts will be headed to the polls to vote
on millage proposals today.

All are millage renewals except for the Grand Ledge proposal, where voters are being asked to approve a millage increase of 1.95 mills for a bond issue. The bonds would raise nearly $60 million to finance security improvements at all school buildings as well as adding new computers, buses, and replacing the temporary classrooms at Neff Kindergarten Center, Hayes Middle School and Delta Center Elementary.

"I think it is a very urgent matter," Brian Metcalf,
the superintendent of the Grand Ledge
School District, said during an interview on Current
State on WKAR (90.5FM) on Monday. "We have multiple levels of safety and
security. It's honestly one of the greatest expenditures of the bond money."

A number of important school millages are up for a vote during a special election on TuesdayMLive Media Group

Addressing criticism over the millage's aid to arts
and athletic programs, Metcalf said that the focus is to make a student's school
experience well-rounded and not simply being added as "extras."

"I think we all knew
somebody back in high school or even a student now, is a great athlete or loves
play production.

"However, if it wasn't for those athletics or for
the drama, that kid would not be engaged as a student," he continued.

In Lansing,
voters will be asked to renew the operational non-homestead millage which – if
approved – would collect about $18 million in 2015. Lansing taxpayers would not see any increase on their tax bills.

But if the millage is not renewed, it could have devastating
effects on the district, said Lansing School Board President Peter Spadafore on Current State, hosted by Mark Bashore:"We're talking 170 teaching positions and we can't cut
170 teachers. We would not see
athletics; we would not see buses, all of those types of things to add up to
$18 million annually if this millage does not pass."

Spadafore said that the district faces a $6
million shortfall and he won't settle for a deficit budget.

"We think we have some plans [for cuts] but there
are some 'sacred cows' that have not been talked about in years," Spadafore
said. One of the "sacred cows" mentioned was eliminating high school transportation - an $800,000 savings - if the millage is not renewed.

Other millage proposals on area ballots include Williamston,
where a recreation millage renewal proposal would levy .75 mills ($0.75 per
$1,000 on taxable valuation) on taxable property. It would also provide funding
for public recreation and playgrounds for 10 years.

If passed, it would raise nearly $280,000 in its
first year. If not, the millage will expire on June 30 and there would be
significant cuts to recreation programs, district officials say.

In Bath
Township, voters are being asked to approve a five-year renewal of the Bath
Community School District 's 1-mill sinking fund. The 1 mill creates about
$235,000 a year for school building upgrades and other purposes.